State to Acquire Oxnard, Huntington Beach Wetlands

State officials announced Monday that they have reached agreement on a $17-million deal to acquire some of the best remaining coastal wetlands in Oxnard and Huntington Beach.

The agreement concludes months of negotiations by the California Coastal Conservancy, backed by environmental groups, to secure environmentally sensitive lands that once were buffer zones for Southern California Edison power plants.

While details are being ironed out, the agreement would transfer 610 acres at Ormond Beach and 31 acres at Mandalay Dunes, both in Oxnard, and 20 acres at Huntington Beach to public ownership.

It is part of a broader effort to restore wetlands for the benefit of wildlife and to protect the properties from future development, officials said.

“This is the biggest project we’ve ever done,” said Bill Ahern, executive director of the conservancy. “It means there’s going to be more birds flying over houses and more fish in the sea.”

The acquisition of a portion of Ormond Beach is the centerpiece of the deal. The conservancy, using funds set aside for the preservation of California’s coastline, agreed to pay $15 million for about 220 acres of wetlands, 80 acres of beach and 300 acres of upland tilled fields.

Authorities plan to link that land to new sources of freshwater and tidal influences to replenish wetlands with nutrients vital to plants and animals.

“We hope this will be the foundation of one big wetlands complex spanning 3,000 acres from Point Mugu to Port Hueneme, “ said Peter Brand, project manager with the Coastal Conservancy.